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Subscribe to RSSBuoyed by national editorials condemning some Democrats’ desire not to touch entitlements in any fiscal cliff negotiations, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) challenged the White House today on the issue of entitlement reform.
Citing White House adviser David Plouffe recent comments that “fiscal cliff” talks should address Medicare and Medicaid, the “chief drivers of our deficit,” Cantor said, “we have seen, this morning, several editorial writers indicate the same; that it is important that we put these drivers of the deficit on the table and include them as part of any agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff.”
Are we inching toward bipartisan compromise on the fiscal cliff? Is the president signaling he'll be more willing to work with business leaders in his second term? No Labels co-founder Mark McKinnon, Fortune Magazine's Leigh Gallagher and former DLC Chair Harold Ford Jr. join a conversation on these issues.
Cantor defended the GOP’s position of no increase on taxes for the wealthiest Americans and claimed that the party has “done its part” by putting new revenue on the table in the form of minimizing tax deductions and closing loopholes. He then accused the Obama administration of not putting forward a “good-faith effort…to talk about the real problem that we're trying to fix.”
Cantor’s desire to shed light on what he sees as Democrats’ intransigence on entitlement reform is a calculated effort by the GOP to try and paint the president and his allies as stubbornly in favor of policies that will add to the deficit, GOP aides told NBC News.
Recently, Democrats have coalesced around the idea that a “fiscal cliff” agreement should not necessarily touch Social Security and likely even Medicare or Medicaid -- and only pertain to spending cuts and taxes.
“If the public sees we’re willing to give something and Democrats are not, it’ll strengthen our negotiating position,” one GOP aide admitted.
It remains to be seen whether the American public will buy such an argument, especially with polls showing a majority supporting the idea of raising taxes on the wealthy to pay down the debt and not raise even the entry age into Medicare.
Michael Conroy / AP
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va.
Republicans, however, are banking on saying that Democrats are just as, if not more, unyielding on their “sacred cows,” and that leading to the typical Washington narrative of both parties being unwilling to move toward the center in favor of their own special interests. That, Republicans believe, could ultimately hurt the president, elected on the promise of doing big things.
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The chief drivers of our deficit are the REPUBLICANS/TERRORISTS who are SABOTAGING our ECONOMY.
To all the people that think SS is not an entitlement, let me explain something. I know this to be true, my stepmother is from Holland and she gets SS from both Holland and the US, funny thing is she has not worked a day in this country, I call that an ENTITLEMENT and it needs to be changed. How many MILLIONS are getting SS that have not paid a dime into it, that is an ENTITLEMENT, if you still don't think it needs to be changed well then CLIFF here we come. It is so funny how much Obama has polarized this country. Clinton had a majority Reb house, Bush had Dem, Regan had Dems they got the job done because they worked together for the common good (as well as politicians can). Think for yourselves, if not we are doomed. I am a proud Rep, and I am not happy with anyone in washington now. Just so you know I vote for both Reb and Dems how many out there can say that, I vote on the person not my party. SO when someone says SS is not an entitlement they are wrong, it is, and it needs to be changed
One more thing to all that say your taxes did not go up with Obama is because the BUSH TAX CUTS ARE STILL IN EFFECT, and everyone in Washington saying they don't work, well, jobless rates are down the economy was picking up but hey they don't work. FACTS ARE FACTS FACE THEM. Let the ranting begin.
Most of the commenters here have the gist. These A-holes need to get voted out of a job. We also need to make them suffer with the same crappy retirement, the same crappy health insurance (at exhorbitant rates) and they need to earn crap minimum wages just like they force on the rest....then let's see if they are so willing to watch taxes go up on us and the economy falter. They have been screwing up the nation for 4 years now due to the bigotry and stupidity of these ultra right wingnuts and their fear that an African American might just do a good job as President.
To call Social Security an entitlement is an insult....WE THE PEOPLE work for that....while Congress gets a free ride. Let those jerks see how much of an "entitlement" it is when they have to live on it as well. Also, lets give them minimum wage, just like they force the poor to live on...and see how much that gets fixed. These morons need to go....I am waiting for the next election to send them another wake up call....perhaps send them home to eeke out a living like the rest of us they have thrown under the bus while they were trying to make Obama look bad.
Face it folks, we need to clean house in Washington....I pledge that I will do my part this next election cycle! How bout you?
GOP is not an acronym in these days for republican; rather it reflects the views of a group characterized as plutocratic, an epyonym for a minor greek deity who loved his wealth.
while both current political parties love their wealth, it would seem the GOP is not satisfied with a major share, but needs to acquire all, the later reminding of midas and his gold.
how do you locate these GOP types; usually in the front pew of whatever religion they so holy espose.
They lost the friggin war... it was called an election. They are like the last Japanese holdouts from WWII hiding in a cave on some Pacific island. Sombody please rescue them and tell them they lost!!
The Republicans are still looking to score points and make the President look bad. This is not a game of points- Republicans must somehow realize that America rejected their positions and need to work with the Democrats to fashion a plan. Taxes will go up for the wealthiest among us and guess what? They will still be the wealthiest among us!
Raising rates is only one component of the balanced plan- Get on board, Republicans!!